Fastening device



Feb. 20, 1951 G. A. TINNERMAN 2,542,883

FASTENING DEVICE Filed Aug. l2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sme/wm 650,96 A? FMA/MMM Feb. 20, 1951 G. A. TINNERMAN 2,542,883

FASTENING DEVICE Filed Aug. l2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iliff vl, I.

rroen/Ey Patented Feb. 20, 14951 FASTENING DEVICE `'George A; 'Iiinnerman, Cleveland, Ohio, :assigner t' to .TinnermanzProducts, Inc., :Olevelan-rohio, fa

corporation of` Ohio.'

`This 'invention Arelates in `generalita 'fastening devices and deals, `more particularly, '.with fase teningdevices 'in the form `of clips `or 'the like whichare adapted` to `be rattached in aligned openings in two or morerparts to secure 'the same together.

Frequently the attaching opening zfor `a-'clip 4or sim'ilarfastenerfis vexposed on the outer side oi the `installation and there is, therefore, a'ftendency forwaten :dust and other foreign matter to pass 'through theattachinglopening into the =in terior of th'eassembly. "In automobile installations, for example,` this `is highly "objectionable inasmuch 'as the' entrance'of such'waten -dust and other -4foreign Arrratter into the .interior of `the "vehicle -bodyresults in damage-totheinpho]- stery, trim material, etc.

A primary lobject of *the invention, therefore, is Lto `provide various forms of fclip fasteners .in which-the attaching means isprovided l in .conunction with an Limperforate button-like head that icompletelycoversand closes thefattach'ing opening and ltherebyrprevents Ithe ipassage .o'f water, dust Aand other -foreign.matterwthrough any such opening; i

A 4further object of lthe invention is fto provide various y"forms `of cli-p vfasteners `hailing isuch `iin-- -perforate button-.type 'heads .'by `which `fthe frat'- taching opening isaren'dered impervious tothe passage Aoi water, :cl-ust andaotherioneign zirnatter, .andin which .the attachingfmeansaris so` designedsas to befeasily .anquickly slid into final nposition yin interlocked engagement Lin..aligne;d .openings :in the `parts secured.

Anotherobjectoi the irlventionaisfiortheprot vision .of various yirmJroved :fasteners comprising .imperforate 'button-'like heads adapted .for leak-proof and dust-prooi .attachment oi/eran attaching opening .parts -to be..secur.ed=and attaching means in the form lof-ahooki-.or Lthe like which is easily `and :quickly `secured ."intsuch opening `together v with fa .cooperating locking shoulder .which locks `the fastenerin attached rposition -zagainst loosening or remoyal.

Further objects and advantages, and other net/and fuseffui features -in Athe.Yconst-11uc'tion, ,arrangement and .general combination :of .parte of :thevinvention `will `be `readily apparent as ithe iollowing description proceeds with `reference -to the :accompanying drawings, `for purposes ofV illus.- vtration butlnotxof limitation, finwhich like `ref- '.erence charactersidesignate like partsthroughont, .and 4in which:V Fig. :1 is :awperspective'view .of oneifoiimwof tas- Arli i) .2 tener Lin accordance -with .the invention as :seen fromV 3the V"underside,ith'ereoi;

Fig. 2v is a sectional :wiew illustrating A.the .iastener Isoi' Fig. '1 ias applied in. vaniopening provided by aligned holes vin ra fpair of superposed'fparts .to secure -the-"same together;

Fig. 3 is 1a perspective` view .i showing .fthe i afastener-of Figs. 1 and2 :as 'appliedein lafltypi'cal assembly ior yat'tacl'iiriga 'rubber -sealing :strip fto azpan-el fin an autmnobilelins'tallation; foraexample; and,

Fig. 4risafsectional yiewlonfran `enlaicged scale of fthe assembly oi" i :3 showing the `disposition of the .fastener rior securing'ithe retainer :portion oi rthe sealing `strip lto fthe supporting .-zpanel "in the completed `mounting of nthe rubber :sealing strip.

Fig. Vv5 is a perspective View `of :another form of -fastener as seen trom-fthe undersideithereoi;

Fig; 6"is a-perspective=-view-`of lthetop offthc iastenerffof l Fig. l5 showing lthe imperiorate -b'ut- -ton-lilie head'i'thereoi; pand,"

Fig. 27. is a sectional fview rshowing theflfastener 'of Figs.A 5rand f6 `as 4applied fto an #opening fior-med lby* laligned Vfho'les `lin a pair of 4superposed lpar-ts to `be secured.

Fig. 8 `is 4a sectional yviewshowin-g -a .further form u'of fastener as Iapplied toYaSIig-ned'lholes in `'two i or 1more parts vrto vsecure -the same together;

El'ig. 19 lis a-*bottom planview of` the *fastener shown in Fig. 8; and,I 1

Fig. l0 an `edge elevational `View foi fthe fas- 1vholes in superposed parts to secure they same together; and,

Fig. 14 "-is 4a bottom plan View of vthe Hias'tener shown A'in "Fig:

The improved "fastening devices lof the-invenftion `are of generalrutility andma-y berea-dily "provided in anysize or form 'necessaryffor' use infvarious installations in vproportionto the size `a-ridfoontour off-the vparts secured. The fasten- -ing devices are "particularly suited ifor use in securing a l.part to an :apertured supporting *ipa-ritby sini-ple Iand `quick koperation Atakingplace-ien- Atire'ly from fone yside thereof as "required rin a blind location, for example. In any form, the fastener comprises an imperforate button-like head which completely covers aligned openings in the parts secured and attaching means in the form of a hook, or the like, which is applied easily and quickly through said openings to Vsecure said parts by a clasping action together with a locking shoulder or the like which locks the fastener in applied fastening position against loosening or displacement. The imperforate,

button-like head of the fastener not only serves to close the aligned openings in the parts secured against the passage of moisture, dust and other foreign matter but also presents a smooth rounded surface which provides for safety anda neat and pleasing appearance.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings, Figs. 1-4 inclusive show one form of fastener in accordance with the invention and a typical application thereof as employed for securing a rubber sealing strip onto a support such as aV panel in an automobile installation, for example. The support may be of anysuitable material such as Sheet metal, Wood, fiber board, or the like, and in the present illustration is shown comprising a metallic plate or panel portion I defined by an inturned flange orv the like on an overlying main body panel 'A as seen in Fig. 3. The main body panel A accordingly renders theV inner side of said plate portion I inaccessible for holding a nut to receive a bolt or screw for securingthe sealing strip B to said plate portion. The fastener of the present invention, howeveris admirably suited for this purpose inasmuch as it may be applied to fastening position by an operation taking place entirely from the accessible side of the assembly.

The supporting panel or plate portion I is provided with suitable stud openings or holes 2 along the path which therubber sealing strip B is secured thereto in mounted position. The rubber sealing strip B is of the type which is molded onto a metallic rib carried byla flange B in the 'form of a Vplate-like retainer strip which is provided with spaced openings 'I corresponding substantially to the spacing of the openings 2 in the supporting panel I. The aligned openings 2 and 'I in the parts to -be secured may be of any desired configuration such as circular holes or elongate -slots and need not be of the same size or design so long as they may be suitably aligned, substantial-- ly as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

The fastener, designated generally I0, is formed from a relatively small inexpensive blank of sheet metal which isreadily severed fromV standard sheet m'etal strip stock with very little loss or waste of material. The fastener maybe made of any suitable sheet metal but preferably that of a `spring metal nature such as spring steel or cold rolled metal having spring characteristics and otherwise of a much greater tensile and compressive strength than the plate portions I, 6, secured thereby. The fastener is provided with a base Vor body I I ofany desired shape or design inthe form of an imperforate button-like head. Pref-V erably the fastener body II is formed in the stamping operation in a generally concave, dished formation together Withan integral armV I 3 at one Aend which is return bent to lie under said base or body II and substantially within the concave interior thereof in normal untensioned relation.

The spring arm I3 is provided with a resilient hook I 4, tongue, or thelike, which is stamped from the material of said arm to extend in the opposite direction in generally parallel and spaced relation thereto. The resilient hook I4 denes a shoulder I5 adjoining said spring arm I3 and a clasping portion spaced therefrom in normal untensioned relation a distance approximating the combined thickness of the parts I, 6, to be secured. Preferably the extremity or free end of said hook I4 terminates in an outwardly flared lip element I6 Which facilitates the initial application of the hook over the marginal edge of the opening 2 of partI at the underside of the assembly. The free end of the spring arm I3 is suitably formed, as by a slight outward bend, to define a sharp locking shoulder I8 on the extremity of said spring arm I3 which is spaced from the shoulder I5 on the hook a distance approximating the predetermined distance between opposing wall portions of the aligned openings 2, 'I in the parts to be secured.

With the fastener I0 thus provided and the parts I', 6, to be secured prepared with the openings 2, '1, respectively, in suitable registration as shown in Figs. 2A and 4, the fastener is easily and quickly appliedv to locked fastening positionv securing said parts by an operation taking place entirely from the outer, readily accessible side of the assembly. This is effected simply by inserting the free end of the resilient hook I4 into and'through the aligned panel openings 2, 1, and sliding the fastener in the direction of the free end of said hook I. The outwardly ared li-p I6 on the -extremity of said hookIII facilitates this initial step in applying the hook by causing a gradual outward flexing thereof relatively to the associated spring-arm I3 as it cams over the edge of the-opening 2 at the underside of the assembly. By pressing on the base or body II of the fastener and simultaneously sliding the fastener forward the clasping tongue portion of said hook I4 clears the underside of the supporting part I and permits the fastener to be advanced to its fully ap-` plied fastening position to the point at which the shoulder I5 on said hook abuts the adjacent wall portion or marginal portion of the opening 2 in the supporting part I- at the edge of said opening as illustrated in Fig. 2. In this position, the pronounced locking shoulder I8 defined by the free end of the spring arm I3 snaps into the opening 'I of the retainer strip 6 in engagement with the adjacent wall thereof in directly opposed relation to the shoulder I5, inasmuch asit is provided in a predetermined spacing from said shoulder I5 for this purpose in order to cooperate therewith and lockl the fastener in fullyY applied fastening position. Said locking shoulder i8, accordingly, cooperates with the shoulder I5 on the hook in engaging opposing Wall portions of the aligned openings 2,V 'I, to prevent endwise displacement or shifting of the fastener from nal position. In Y this relation, the hook I4 is in rigid, clasping en' gagement withthe underside of part I and cooperates With the spring arm I3 and fastener body II to fasten the secured partsv I, 6, under continuously effective spring tension. In Vthe application of the fastener, the fastener body or base II flexes and yields as necessary to permit the hook I4 to be advanced to final position in which said fastener body or base I I is disposed in close, substantially flush relation to the outer surface of the secured part 6. The arrangement is such ananas passage offinoistur, dustzand otlirfdreign matter asl adequately as necessary for most purposes. In 'the event that it is necessary or desirable-to i" iovthe fastener vfrom attached fastening position,` a `suitable tool the fastener body "or Vbase 'I I from the"y adjacent l'surfaces of part h5as'`necessary"to displace the `locking shouldenl on the extremity of the spring arm I3 from abutting relationw'ith the engaged wall 'portion of the opening I, `whereuponthe fastener maybe slid reversely to'disengage-the ttaching jhooli` I4 from fastening position and thereby permit the fastener to be removed." y

` Figs----fiinclusive disclose another formof-the invention in which the fastener 20 comprises a similar imperforate button-like body orbase 2 I having an integral strip at one end which is return bent to provide a spring arm portion 22 under the fastener base and within the concave interior thereof together with an outwardly bent portion providing the attaching hook or tongue 24. The hook 24` as thus provided includes a shoulder 25 adjoining the spring arm portion 22 and terminates in an outwardly flared lip 26 which preferably extends slightly beyond the periphery of the fastener body or base 2 I.

At a suitable space from the shoulder 25 on the hook, an imperforate depression is formed in the fastener body 2I to provide a pronounced locking shoulder 28 spaced from said shoulder 25 a distance substantially equal to or slightly less than the space between opposing wall portions of the aligned holes in the parts to be secured. As shown in Fig. 7, the fastener is adapted to secure any two or more parts C, D, in an assembly simi-- lar to that of Figs. 1-4 inclusive by application to any suitable opening in such parts provided, for example, by aligned circular holes 3, 4. In this regard, the locking shoulder 28 is provided in a rounded formation corresponding to the contour of the circular opening thus provided so as to be received therein in snug engagement with the adjacent wall thereof. The fastener 20, accordingly, comprises a construction which is more or less equivalent to that of Figs. 1-4 inclusive and is adapted to be applied in a similar manner to serve the same purpose and use, substantially as described. A divisional application Serial Number 203,181, filed December 28, 1950, is directed to the fastening device shown in Figs. 5-7, inclusive.

Figs. 8-10 inclusive shox-v a further form of the invention comprising the fastener 3l! which is similar to that just described in that the imperforate button-like body or base 3l is provided with an integral strip portion which is return bent into a spring arm portion 32 and further bent to provide the attaching hook or tongue 34 defining the shoulder 35 and outwardly flared lip 36 on the extremity thereof.

An opposite integral strip portion 31 is bent inwardly under the concave fastener body 3i and has the end portion thereof bent into a locking shoulder 38 which is spaced from the shoulder 35 on the hook a distance approximating the predetermined space between opposing wall portions of the opening in the secured parts C, D. Preferably the fastener base 3l is provided with inturned nange portions 33 o-n its periphery except in the regions in which the integral strips 32 and 31 extend from said fastener base. Such flanges 33 rigidify the fastener body 3| and provide a smooth peripheral edge thereon which is substantially in the plane of the integral strips 32, 31, to provide an even uniform seating of the is employed to l wedge fastener -onL the adjacent surface for Jthe part fC secured as seen in Fig; 8.

Figs. f ll and""12 illustrate anotherf form of fastenerf4' comprising a generally concave,dished body or baise4I andfan integral-striplorspring armf42 at one side thereof which extendslentire'- lyacross vthe undersideof thefastener body. The free'end of said arm or strip 42 is `crimped .under an .inturned'ange 43'which also provides the fastener with afslnooth `peripheral edge'that iris adapted-forleven-uniform `seating of the surface of the adjacent part secured as shown in Fig. 11.

A hook or tongue Mis-stamped from the materialofffsaid arm 42 and'. includes a shoulder 45 and an outwardly flared lip 416 -onfthe extremity thereof. At a suitable predetermined spacing from the hook 44, a tab is pressed from said arm 42 so that its extremity defines a locking shoulder 48 spaced from said shoulder 45 on the hook a distance substantially equal to or slightly less than the space between opposing wall portions of the opening defined by the aligned holes 3, 4, in the secured parts C, D.

Figs. 13 and 14 disclose a similar fastener 55 comprising a generally concave base or body 5l and a separate arm or strip 52 which is provided with a hook 44 and cooperating locking shoulder element 48 struck and formed therefrom in the same general construction of the fastener of Figs. 11 and 12. The ends of the arm or strip 52 are retained within the generally concave base 5I by an inturned peripheral flange 53 which rigidies the fastener body and provides a smooth, uninterrupted annular surface by which the fastener is adapted to seat evenly and uniformly on the surface of the adjacent part secured as illustrated in Fig. 13.

It will be understood that each form of fastener shown in Figs. 8-10 inclusive, Figs. 1.1 and 12, and Figs. 13 and 14, comprises in its construction `an attaching hook and a cooperating locking shoulder in the same general relation and for the same purpose as in the previously disclose-d forms of the invention, and accordingly, each of these fasteners is adapted to be applied and used. likewise, in the manner described in detail with reference to Figs. 1-4 inclusive and Figs. 7 and 8.

While the invention has been described in detail with specific examples, such examples are intended as illustrations only inasmuch. as it will be apparent that other modifications in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener comprising a sheet metal body providing an imperforate base, an arm :integrally connected to the peripheral edge of said imperforate base and extending under said imperferate base, a hook carried by said arm extending reversely in the opposite direction from said arm, said hook projecting outwardly out ci the plane of said arm in position to be received in a work opening in clasping relation with the Work adjacent said opening in the attached position of the fastener, and a locking shoulder provided at the free end of said arm and also receivable in said work opening to retain said hook in the Work opening in said attached position of the fastener.

2. A fastener comprising a sheet metal body providing an imperforate base, an arm integrally connected to the peripheral edge c-f said imperforate base and extending under said imperiorate base, a hook pressed out of the material of said arm 'and extending reversely in the opposite direction from said arm, said hook projecting outwardly out of the plane of said arm in position to be Areceived. in a work opening in clasping relation with the work adjacent said opening in the attached position of the fastener, and a locking shoulder provided at the free end of said arm and also receivable in said Work opening to retain said hook in the Work openingin said attached position of the fastener. g,

' GEORGEA.l TINNERMAN.

' REFERENCES CITED Number 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date, Gullong -11-- May 19,1925 Hall May 19, 1936 Fitts May 18, 1937 Cox June 8, 1937 Wiley Oct. 18,"1938 Johnson Jan. 24, 1939 Fernberg 1 Mar. 14, 1939 Tinnerinan l Aug. 8, 1939 Tinnerman MayA 7, 1940 Tinnerman 1-- Nov. 19, 1940 Place 1-, oet. 7, A1941 Krai June 13, v 1950 

